Ask Mattie
Have a question? Our Wedding Consultant, Mattie, has been helping brides since 1998 with everything from finding the perfect gown to selecting stationery, favors and more.
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Hi,
I’m Mattie. Just to let you know a little about me – In 1998, I became a Certified Wedding Consultant. That same year, I put together my first Official Wedding under my new title . . .
. . . and it was an absolute nightmare! Well, for me, anyway. Not that my lovely couple ever knew, luckily, but pulling it off felt like the magic trick where the magician is trapped under water and all the audience sees is him emerging unharmed.
After that experience I vowed never to plan another wedding again! But then, I stopped and took a breath. And I realized that most of the “nightmare” had been all in my own head. The feeling of being trapped under water? All me. The wedding had been beautiful and flawless; the dresses and tuxedos all fit perfectly; the photographer, caterer, florist and other wedding professionals all arrived on time, well-coordinated; and even the ring bearer acted the perfect young gentleman. None of those embarrassing moments that get caught on video happened and the family and friends of the happy couple were talking for days afterward how lovely it had all been.
There was no nightmare at all! It was all my own stress and worry over it being my First Official Wedding. I was now a Wedding Consultant, after all. It had to be Perfect.
Days later, I sat back and laughed at how I had stressed over everything. Because, although it was my first wedding after becoming Certified, it was far from my first wedding. As a Bridal Consultant working in a local boutique, I had helped countless brides with every detail of their wedding, from start to finish. Having the opportunity to work for a small, family-owned bridal boutique gave me the unique position of helping new brides pick out not only their dress, but also stationery, favors, gifts for the bridal party, and even help with the florist, cake, music and other details of their weddings. I had traveled from Texas to Arkansas for one wedding, helping the bride and groom pull off long distance plans.
Once I realized I had stressed myself out over really nothing at all, I discovered the real secret to a stress-free wedding. Take your time. Relax. And enjoy it.
My worrying did not make the other wedding professionals arrive on time. Their own professionalism did. My sleepless night on the night before the wedding did not create the beautiful weather we had that day. And my stress-level and high anxiety certainly did not affect the perfect manners of the 4-year-old boy expected to walk a straight line down the aisle and not fidget before being allowed to go sit on his mom’s lap.
The only real difference between myself (and all wedding consultants, really) and the bride is that we get to experience this joyous occasion over and over. As the bride and groom, this is your chance to enjoy your day together. It’s a day of celebration. Relax, enjoy it, and have fun. And, if you feel like you’re stuck under water in a magician’s magic tank, don’t forget to come up for air and breathe.
And remember,
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